Nothing personal against the owners, themselves, but I lack respect for people who drive great cars and don't take care of them.

Why? It usually means they have more important things to do in life than become OCD with their transportation device, yet still displayed a modicum of good taste when selecting it. It also probably means they have the financial resources to not have had to have spent 75% of their income on their ride, and therefore feel the need to treat it as the only thing that matters.

That being said I'm not onboard with general dirtiness, because that trait probably permeates their whole life.

There's plenty of people around here that grind my gears (Portland, OR)
A guy with a mk5 R32 on some glossy black Les Schwab wheels with his smash mouth hair cut always blasting some emo screamo crap and going WOT at every stop light/sign in town.

Another is a woman with a newer blue V70R who I've seen hit curbs around corners, and docks it like a boat onto curbs when pulling into parking spaces. Wheels and bumper are trashed.

And to top it off, I had a friend who picked up a 2006(?) Mercedes C class a couple years ago. When I had asked him how often checked his oil, he replied with "i just wait for the light to come on".

Why? It usually means they have more important things to do in life than become OCD with their transportation device, yet still displayed a modicum of good taste when selecting it. It also probably means they have the financial resources to not have had to have spent 75% of their income on their ride, and therefore feel the need to treat it as the only thing that matters.

That being said I'm not onboard with general dirtiness, because that trait probably permeates their whole life.

Well, there is a difference between someone who is OCD and treats their "transportation device" as a priceless piece of art, while neglecting other important things in their life and someone who simply takes general care of his/her nice vehicle. I'm a busy person, and can still find time to wash and clean my car myself, but also realize it is just a car and meant to be driven, thus likely to sustain some wear and tear over time.

There's also a difference between someone who maybe doesn't keep his/her vehicle very clean for whatever reason and someone who basically neglects every aspect of vehicle maintenance. I've certainly known many of the latter, who were also fortunate enough to have really nice cars basically handed to them. One example is a friend who was given a really nice 65' Mustang as his first car. He not only didn't take care of it, but didn't realize you're supposed to change the oil. Another friend was given a fully loaded Jetta 1.8T. Sure, that's nothing awesome like a W8 Passat, or something, but it was a nice car, which at the time I would have taken in a heartbeat. She ragged it out, soon had a makeshift closet/dirty clothes hamper in the back seat, and refused to use anything other than regular octane fuel, even though I'm sure her parents helped her pay for gas, too.

My first car was a 92' Camry with 70K miles on the clock. I took good care of it, and felt fortunate to have such a "nice" car at 16. Obviously, I had many friends with MUCH nicer cars at the time, but I was never really envious of them. However, it was really annoying to see some of those friends with such nice cars not taking at least basic care of them.

a G35 will have the same power, lighter, bigger interior, better on gas, much more reliable.... There's just no point on having a W8 Passat unless you're a fanboy.

There is no point to having a G35 unless you are an Infiniti fanboy by that logic then, correct? You moron. Not everybody needs to drive what you think is the best car for them. Luckily, there are lots of automotive manufacturers out there, and lots of different models to choose from, so everybody can drive what ever the hell they want!

a G35 will have the same power, lighter, bigger interior, better on gas, much more reliable.... There's just no point on having a W8 Passat unless you're a fanboy.

So now a fanboy is someone who might prefer the look, style, feel etc. of something from one brand over another or does this application of the term only work when it's someone favoring a VW?

Since we're talking a lot about Passat W8s in here, Ill say this: I thought it was a neat, appealing package for its day. I've heard some with aftermarket exhaust which make a pretty nice sound, too. There was something just funky and neat about the general concept. Obviously, in retrospect it was too much complexity and $$$ for a car in that segment (midsize sub-premium). Furthermore, they have clearly proven to be high maintenance for many owners. I'd say it's a vehicle for someone with curious tastes who gets enough enjoyment out of it to deal with its flaws. I know that's crazy, even fanboyism to some -- maybe even myself included, but there are people really into a lot of things which leave me scratching my head wondering why... To each their own, I guess.

Well, there is a difference between someone who is OCD and treats their "transportation device" as a priceless piece of art, while neglecting other important things in their life and someone who simply takes general care of his/her nice vehicle. I'm a busy person, and can still find time to wash and clean my car myself, but also realize it is just a car and meant to be driven, thus likely to sustain some wear and tear over time.

There's also a difference between someone who maybe doesn't keep his/her vehicle very clean for whatever reason and someone who basically neglects every aspect of vehicle maintenance. I've certainly known many of the latter, who were also fortunate enough to have really nice cars basically handed to them. One example is a friend who was given a really nice 65' Mustang as his first car. He not only didn't take care of it, but didn't realize you're supposed to change the oil. Another friend was given a fully loaded Jetta 1.8T. Sure, that's nothing awesome like a W8 Passat, or something, but it was a nice car, which at the time I would have taken in a heartbeat. She ragged it out, soon had a makeshift closet/dirty clothes hamper in the back seat, and refused to use anything other than regular octane fuel, even though I'm sure her parents helped her pay for gas, too.

My first car was a 92' Camry with 70K miles on the clock. I took good care of it, and felt fortunate to have such a "nice" car at 16. Obviously, I had many friends with MUCH nicer cars at the time, but I was never really envious of them. However, it was really annoying to see some of those friends with such nice cars not taking at least basic care of them.

I get it, I try to keep my cars maintained according to schedule, cleaned once or twice a month, usually spending more than I should on initial purchase, but keeping them for a long time. In this regard I would say I spend more time than average on my cars but not as much time as I once did, but I like cars always have since I was five years old.

My point is I don't fault those who treat their expensive / enthusiast vehicle as an appliance. It just means they are not really into cars but purchased it because they thought it was nice. Once they own it they treat it as all the other nice things they most likely have around their home, and when it gets a few years old they replace it with a new one.

The reality is these people have their priorities straight and most likely are focused on making real money rather than the measly sum that your or my preventative maintenance and upkeep saved at trade in.

I think the point he is making is why do people buy top of the line/rare vehicles if they dont care and only need them to get from point a to b, AND not take care of them on
top of that. They could have just bought a base model.

I am NOT VW fan, but the anyone who says the W8 Passat isnt a neat car is just full of themselves.

I think the point he is making is why do people buy top of the line/rare vehicles if they dont care and only need them to get from point a to b, AND not take care of them on
top of that. They could have just bought a base model.

I am NOT VW fan, but the anyone who says the W8 Passat isnt a neat car is just full of themselves.

Because money/status?

Not hard to figure out. Why do people buy a Rolex when a timex keeps the time?

I think the point he is making is why do people buy top of the line/rare vehicles if they dont care and only need them to get from point a to b, AND not take care of them on
top of that. They could have just bought a base model.

I am NOT VW fan, but the anyone who says the W8 Passat isnt a neat car is just full of themselves.

Because usually top of the line models are nicer? The look nicer, feel nicer, sound nicer, etc.

Why buy a Viking stove when you don't cook and order takeout every night?

I read the thread title as different than everyone else (I think) I was thinking of it as, I hate when I roll up like yesterday I'm in my WRX and pulled up next to a new Shelby. I glanced over to give the guy a and all I got is the douche bag, stink eye.

I always like to believe everyone driving an enthusiast car, is actually an enthusiast.

But as far as the first page of this thread goes, call me a car NERD if you will. As much as I hate that gen Passat, I find the W8 Passat something pretty cool. Mostly because I am suprised to see one still working Lol but I also find the exhaust note extremely awesome and unique. I thought I read something expensive breaks on these that costs more than the car is worth to fix, is it the timing chain or ????

I read the thread title as different than everyone else (I think) I was thinking of it as, I hate when I roll up like yesterday I'm in my WRX and pulled up next to a new Shelby. I glanced over to give the guy a and all I got is the douche bag, stink eye.

I always like to believe everyone driving an enthusiast car, is actually an enthusiast.

You are a just a boy racer and you don't support the USofA economy to the Mustang owner.

I think the biggest case of "competition" or whatever you want to call it comes between truck drivers. A Ram owner thinks his truck is better than the GM/Ford and heaven forbid a truck that is not domestic.

The reality is these people have their priorities straight and most likely are focused on making real money rather than the measly sum that your or my preventative maintenance and upkeep saved at trade in.

If they're really so laser-focused on making big money (which is as huge an assumption as just saying they're lazy), then they can afford to pay mechanics and detailers, if their time is that effing valuable.

If you're really rich and don't give a crap about looking rich and you *really* have your priorities straight, then you emulate Warren Buffett, live in a small house and drive a car with minimal upkeep. You don't get a nice car and let it rot just because you can.